India to host India-Africa Summit in April

The announcement was made by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma at the Executive Council of Foreign Ministers of the African Union (AU) at their Summit in Addis Ababa yesterday.

The Minister said India looked for ''true partnership'' with Africa and would support its development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said here today.

Nearly 50 African countries along with representatives of Regional Economic Communities and the Commissioners of the African Union attended the Summit. Several Foreign Ministers including those of Liberia, Mali, Ivory Coast, Niger and Djibouti and eminent members of the African Union Audit panel were also present.

The Chairperson of the Executive Council, the Foreign Minister of Ghana, thanked Mr Anand Sharma and said that the age old friendship between India and Africa was looking for modern enhancement.

Mr Sharma is leading a delegation to the African Union Summit and invited Heads of State of African countries and their Foreign Ministers to attend the Summit.